A Stitch and A Prayer

About The Book:  A quilt becomes a labor of love for a lonely wife mysteriously separated from her young husband.  After her fiancé returns from the Klondike gold rush in 1897, Florence Harms sets about building a new life in her new marriage—even though the lingering effects of illness have left her weak and vulnerable. She and her young husband, Will, work tirelessly to clear the land around their Northwest cabin, content with their modest life.  But then a stranger comes knocking and Florence suddenly senses a restlessness in Will’s spirit that she had never seen before. When he leaves her with only a note that tells her he will return before their baby’s birth, she is devastated, and the illness that stiffened her joints returns. Counting the days until Will walks back through her door, Florence busies herself with a Tree of Life quilt displaying a map of the farm they call home. Doubts claw at her heart as Florence struggles to believe Will’s promise to return to her. Will her labor of love-and faith in God—sustain her as she waits to see her beloved once again?

About The Author:  Eva Gibson is the author of twenty books, including "The Gift of Forgiveness" and "The Three Marys." She currently teaches "writing your life story" classes for Portland Community College and is an active member of Oregon Christian Writers. She has lived most of her life on the family farm in Wilsonville, Oregon, which is the setting for "A Stitch and a Prayer."

My Thoughts On The Book:  I have read several of the Quilts of Love series and have loved them all so far.  This one was not one of my favorites.  The setting was interesting - I love days of old settings and this one was Oregon in the days of the pioneers. The story line had potential to be interesting as well- a new bride whose husband mysteriously leaves with the promise he will return but no details about where he has gone. The author is from Oregon, and the story feels like the a historical telling of her ancestors experience as newcomers to the wild wild West. The story line was very hard to figure out and it made me wonder if I had missed something somewhere. This was not a sequel, it was a stand alone book.  So I was just left wondering and I plodded through the book.  I did not feel a connection with any of the characters like I have in the other Quilts of Love books. Their actions and conversations were very stilted and abrupt. I just couldn't get into this story. 

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity Group and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.